Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)
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Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 17 May 2013 Volume 85, No WA1 This publication contains the written answers to questions tabled by Members. The content of the responses is as received at the time from the relevant Minister or representative of the Assembly Commission and has not been subject to the official reporting process or changed in any way. Contents Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister ................................................................... WA 1 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ...................................................................... WA 5 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure .................................................................................. WA 11 Department of Education ........................................................................................................ WA 12 Department for Employment and Learning ................................................................................ WA 33 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ...................................................................... WA 39 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................... WA 50 Department of Finance and Personnel ..................................................................................... WA 59 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ........................................................... WA 67 Department of Justice ............................................................................................................ WA 91 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 103 Department for Social Development ...................................................................................... WA 123 Suggested amendments or corrections will be considered by the Editor. They should be sent to: The Editor of Debates, Room 248, Parliament Buildings, Belfast BT4 3XX. Tel: 028 9052 1135 · e-mail: [email protected] to arrive not later than two weeks after publication of this report. Assembly Members Agnew, Steven (North Down) McAleer, Declan (West Tyrone) Allister, Jim (North Antrim) McCallister, John (South Down) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Boyle, Ms Michaela (West Tyrone) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCorley, Ms Rosaleen (West Belfast) Bradley, Ms Paula (North Belfast) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Brown, Ms Pam (South Antrim) McDevitt, Conall (South Belfast) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Byrne, Joe (West Tyrone) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McGahan, Ms Bronwyn (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Cochrane, Mrs Judith (East Belfast) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Copeland, Michael (East Belfast) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) McIlveen, David (North Antrim) Cree, Leslie (North Down) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Dickson, Stewart (East Antrim) McKevitt, Mrs Karen (South Down) Dobson, Mrs Jo-Anne (Upper Bann) McLaughlin, Ms Maeve (Foyle) Douglas, Sammy (East Belfast) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Dunne, Gordon (North Down) McMullan, Oliver (East Antrim) Durkan, Mark H (Foyle) McNarry, David (Strangford) Easton, Alex (North Down) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Eastwood, Colum (Foyle) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Fearon, Ms Megan (Newry and Armagh) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Flanagan, Phil (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Ford, David (South Antrim) Nesbitt, Mike (Strangford) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Ó hOisín, Cathal (East Londonderry) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Hale, Mrs Brenda (Lagan Valley) Overend, Mrs Sandra (Mid Ulster) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Hay, William (Speaker) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Hazzard, Christopher (South Down) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Hussey, Ross (West Tyrone) Rogers, Sean (South Down) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Swann, Robin (North Antrim) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Weir, Peter (North Down) Lynch, Seán (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Wells, Jim (South Down) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Friday 17 May 2013 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 17 May 2013 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Maze Development: Road Infrastructure Proposals Mr Craig asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the road infrastructure proposals for the Maze development. (AQO 3710/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): The regeneration of Maze/Long Kesh site is one of the commitments identified under the Executive’s Programme for Government for 2011-15. A key objective under that commitment is for site infrastructure development work to commence in 2013-14. We established the Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation last September to regenerate the site and meet this commitment. The recent adjournment debate on the road infrastructure of the M1 link to the site highlighted the considerable progress the Development Corporation has made since its inception, including the provision of essential internal infrastructure and an additional entrance in time for the first RUAS Agricultural Show to be held on the site in May. In addition, the Corporation is commencing initial survey work and feasibility studies for inclusion in their detailed proposals for improving infrastructure linkages to the site, including a link to the M1. These wider road developments are seen as key to the overall delivery of regeneration of the site and to attract private sector investment. Indeed, £21 million has been allocated by OFMDFM in the current CSR period for the regeneration of the site which includes essential infrastructure. However, no decisions have been taken regarding the preferred options for linkages to the M1, nor will decisions be made without engagement with stakeholders and the local community. Ministry of Defence: Decontamination and Maintenance Costs of Former Security Sites Mr Nesbitt asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister how much the Ministry of Defence has contributed to decontamination and maintenance costs for former security sites, broken down by site. (AQW 21742/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Ministry of Defence has not contributed to decontamination and maintenance costs of the former security sites gifted to the Executive and held by our Department. WA 1 Friday 17 May 2013 Written Answers Ministry of Defence: Decontamination and Maintenance Costs of Former Security Sites Mr Nesbitt asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what discussions they have had with (i) Central Procurement Directorate; and (ii) the Ministry of Defence on the level of the contributions made by the Ministry of Defence for the decontamination and maintenance costs of each former security sites. (AQW 21743/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: There were a number of meetings with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and with Central Procurement Directorate on the issue of the gifting of sites and decontamination. The MOD and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury confirmed that as the sites were being gifted it was not MOD policy to underwrite decontamination costs at its former military sites before disposal. The MOD confirmed its policy to sell each site ‘as seen’ and they provided us with all MOD land quality assessments previously undertaken. At the time of transfer, officials worked with the Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) on the review of the land quality assessments provided by the MOD and the process to determine accurate contamination levels at the gifted sites. Officials also sought advice from CPD on maintenance costs for these sites. Our officials continue to work closely with CPD on these important issues to ensure sites are safe and maintenance costs are kept to a minimum. Shackleton Army Barracks at Ballykelly Mr Dallat asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) what work has taken place on the decontamination of the former Shackleton